The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced plans to increase the number of participating teams at the African Cup of Nations from 24 to 28 in the coming editions.
The AFCON tournament currently holds every two years and saw the number of participating teams increased from 16 to 24 in 2019.
However, the tournament will begin to hold every four years beginning from 2028, which will also see the number of countries increase in number.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe confirmed the update after an executive meeting on Sunday, which would give nations more chance of making the cut for the final tournament.
“This is about our commitment to world-class football, bringing together the best African players from across the globe to compete on the continent,” the CAF president said.
Meanwhile, the 2027 edition of the African Cup of Nations will go on as planned with 24 nations set to qualify from the large pool of African countries.
It will also be the first edition to be hosted in three countries, with Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania set to host the tournament which will hold between June 19 and July 18, 2027.
Meanwhile, preliminary qualification for the tournament started this month, while the group stages will commence later in September.
Morocco are the defending champions are they were controversially awarded the title following an appeal to CAF, despite Senegal claiming a 1-0 win in an action-packed final.
The Lions of Teranga had won the final in January, which also saw a 16-minute stoppage, but were stripped of their win after they were adjudged to have breached articles 82 and 84 of the African Cup of Nations constitution.
“We have to stop this situation where African fixtures are not predictable, consistent and reliable,” Motsepe said.
“We must also focus on developing football in regions like East Africa, which has enormous potential.”
The expansion plans is a welcome update for countries in the continent, giving them a higher chance of sealing qualification for the AFCON tournament.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
